The man should make the girl his wife, or he, Father Marty, parish priest of Liscannor, would know the reason why.

He was a man who was wont to desire to know the reason why, as to matters which he had taken in hand.

But when he heard the words which Neville spoke and marked the tone in which they were uttered he felt that the young man was preparing for himself a way of escape.
"I don't see that it should make any difference," he said shortly.
"If the man be disreputable,--" "The daughter is not therefore disreputable.

Her position is not changed." "I have to think of my friends." "You should have thought of that before you declared yourself to her, Mr.Neville." How true this was now, the young man knew better than the priest, but that, as yet, was his own secret.

"You do not mean to tell me that because the father is not all that he should be, she is therefore to be thrown over.